Trailer vehicle



N m w B. S.

TRAILER VEHICLE Filed Feb. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheei l ec. s,

s. B. WINM TRAILER VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1939 Gfomcus Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAIIER. VEHICLE Sidney B. Winn, Lapeer, Mich.

Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,061

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to tractortrailer vehicles and more particularly to steering mechanism for the rear wheels of trailers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel steering mechanism for the rear wheels of a trailer vehicle of a character such that the trailer rear wheels are steered in accordance with the steering of a tractor to which the trailer ls coupled.

Another objectof the invention is to provide automatic steering of the rear wheels of a trailer vehicle by the fifth wheel of a tractor coupled to the trailer.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic steering of the rear wheels of a trailer vehicle in which the steering mechanism is automatically coupled to a tractor upon coupling the tractor to the trailer.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying two sheets of drawings. in which- Figure l is a top plan view of a trailer vehicle embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the trailer having parts broken, away and in section to show certain details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a front portion of the trailer vehicle;

Fig. 4 is a View shown in section of the vehicle taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View shown in cross section taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a top planview of a rear end portion of a tractor for the trailer, and

Fig. 7 is a View shown partly in elevation and partly in cross section taken along the `line and in the direction of the arrows 'I-l of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown a rear portion of a tractor having a frame Ill supported in part by rear wheels Il, and pivotally mounted on the frame side members, a fifth wheel l2 is provided having coupling jaws or a king pin receiving slot I3. Mounted on the underside of the fifth .wheel I2, coupling mechanism is proyideda which may be of any suitable type for coupling to aT trailer vehicle and, in the present instance, com-l prises a pair of oppositely disposed levers I4 positioned on opposite jaws and havin arms I5 to swing out into the slot I3. Springs I6, act to pivot the levers yIII in'opposite directions such that their arms I5 will swing inwardly in the vided to rest on the upper surface of the tractor 10 fifth Wheel I2 and secured to the plate and depending therefrom is a king pin 2Ia. for positioning in the fifth wheel slot i3 and cooperate with the coupling levers i4 to couple the vehicle together pivotally.

l5 Rear wheels 22 mounted onan aXle 23, support a frame orunder carriage 2li on elliptical leaf springs 25, the frame 24 being positioned beneath the main trailer frame 2li adjacent the rear end thereof. Mounted-on and rigidly secured to the frame 2d is a circular supporting plate 26 and rigidly secured to the underside of the mainframe ZI, a plate member 2l is provided for seating on the upper surface of the plate 26, these plates having aligning central apertures to receive a pivot pin 28. Thus, the rear wheels of the trailer are arranged to swivel about the pivot 28 or be steered relative to the main trailer frame 26. The rear wheels are operatively connected tothe tractor fifth wheel I2, when the vehicles are coupled, by mechanism including a lever 30 which is pivoted, as at 3|, to a cross member 32 of the main trailer frame 20 at a point between the king pin Zla and the trailer rear wheels. The lever 3Il is provided with oppositely directed arms 32a and a pair of connecting rods or links 33 have their forward ends pivotally connected, as at 3d, to respective. lever arms and have their rear ends pivotally connected as at 35 to upstanding diametrlcally disposed bosses 36 which are integral with the plate of the rear wheel carriage assembly. These bosses 36 extend through and are movable in arcuate slots 31, provided in the plate 2l of the main trailer frame 20. Thus, it will be seen that pivoting ofthe lever 3l] in one direction will steer the trailer rear wheels in a corresponding direction.

'I'he lever 3U has a loose connection with the tractor fth wheel I2 so that the trailer rear wheel steering mechanism is readily and automatically connected and/or disconnected from the trailer in coupling and uncoupling the vehicles. To this end, the lever is provided with a forwardly extending operating arm 38 which, 55

when the vehicles are coupled, loosely positions or projects into the nfth wheel slot I3 whereby when the tractor turns the lever arm 38 is engaged by the side edge of the slot I3 depending upon the direction of turn-and this motion` is transmitted by the rods 33 to the trailer rear wheels which are then turned or steered accordingly. Preferably, a bearing or abutment member 40 which may be a roller is mounted on the forward end of the lever arm 38 and depending therefrom rides or travels in an arcuate slot 4I in the plate 20a which steadies the movement and limits travel of the lever in opposite directions.

It will be understood that trailers of the type herein described are provided with a prop to support the front end thereof when the trailer is uncoupled from a tractor. such a prop being omitted from the present disclosure as it forms no part of the invention and is Well known in the art to which this invention appertains,

From the foregoing description it will now be seen that I have provided for the steering of the rear Wheels of a trailer by and in accordance with turning or the direction of travel of a tractor coupled to the trailer. It will further be appreciated that my trailer rear wheel, tractor actuated steering mechanism is operatively and automatically connected to a tractor upon coupling operation and is automatically disconnected upon uncoupling of the vehicles. This is, of course, advantageous because the steering mechanism does not need any manual attention upon coupling or uncoupling and assures that the rear trailer wheels are under control when the vehicles are coupled.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail it is to be understood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claims for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a tractor having a fifth wheel provided with a slot and with coupling mechanism associated therewith, a trailer having a support, rear wheels for said support and arranged to be steered relative thereto, a king pin carried by said support to position in the fifth wheel slot and cooperate with the coupling mechanism to couple the vehicles together pivotally, steering mechanism for the rear wheels and carried solely by said support, said steering mechanism including a lever member pivoted to said support and having an arm loosely positioned in said slot and terminating intermediate the king pin and the trailer rear wheels.

2. In combination with a tractor having a fifth wheel provided with a slot and having coupling mechanism associated therewith, a trailer comprising a frame, rear wheels supporting the frame and arranged to be steered relative thereto, a king pin carried by said frame to position in said slot and cooperate with said coupling mechanism to cou-ple the vehicles together pivotally, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said lever and said rear wheels, said lever having an arm provided with an abutment loosely positioned'in the slot of the fth wheel when the vehicles are coupled together, said abutment being positioned between the king pin and the trailer rear wheels.

3. In combination with a tractor having a iiith wheel provided with a slot and with coupling mechanism. associated therewith, a trailer including a frame, rear wheels supporting the frame and arranged to be steered relative thereto, a plate member secured to said frame and having Aan arcuate slot, a king pin secured to said plate member in advance of said arcuate slot to position in the fth wheel slot and cooperate with the coupling mechanism to couple the vehicles together, a lever pivoted tothe frame in advance of the rear wheels, means operatively connectlng said lever and the rear wheels, said lever having an arm positioned in the fifth wheel slot to be engaged by the opposed side edges of the slot and having a guide member longitudinally movable in said arcuate slot.

4. In combination with a tractor having a iifth wheel provided with a rearwardly opening V- shaped slot and having coupling mechanism associated with the slot, a trailer having a support, rear wheels for said support and arranged to be steered relative thereto, coupling means carried by said support and cooperable with the coupling mechanism of the fifth wheel to couple the vehicles together pivotally, steering mechanism for the rear wheels and including a lever member pivoted to said support rearwardly of said support coupling means, said lever member having an arm for loosely positioning in said V-shaped slot and operable by the side Walls defining the slot.

5. In combination with a tractor having a fifth wheel provided with coupling means, a trailer having a frame supported by rear wheels arranged to be steered, coupling means carried by said frame and cooperable with the coupling means oi' said iifth wheel to couple the vehicles together, steering mechanism for the trailer rear wheels and carried by said frame, an operating member for said steering mechanism and operated by means on the tractor, said operating member being disposed rearwardly of and in alignment with said frame.

6. In combination with a tractor having a fifth wheel provided with coupling means, a trailer having a frame supported by rear wheels arranged to be steered, coupling means carried'byw said frame and cooperable with the coupling means of said iith wheel to couple the vehicles together, steering mechanism for the trailer rear wheels and carried by said frame,'an operating vmember carried by said frame for operating the steering mechanism, said operating member being separate from said coupling means Yand automatically connected to operating means on the tractor upon backing of the tractor into the trailer.

7. In combination With a tractor having a fifth Wheel provided with coupling means and provided with a king pin receiving slot, a trailer having a frame supported by rear wheels arranged to be steered, a king pin carried by. saidA frame and cooperable with the coupling means of said fth wheel to couple the vehicles together, steering mechanism for the trailer rear wheels and carried by said frame, an operating member carried by said frame for operating the steering mechanism and positioned in `the fifth wheel slot for (lll operation by the iifth wheel, said operating mem- SIDNEY B. WINN. 

